Praising God

Praising God today for letting Steve and I have a good time with my mom and dad. We all went out to eat breakfast at Cracker Barrel and then we went to Bass Pro Shop in Rowlett so that my dad could look at all the displays. This was significant because it was his first outing (other than going to the VA) in a year. I was thankful that he seemed to handle it all well and did not get too tired out. I eyed the bows and arrows because since shooting at the ladies retreat I kind of have a hankering to set up a target in the backyard. It was really fun! I was a lot better at archery than I was at shooting b-b guns. Today at Bass Pro they had a shooting gallery and Steve was amazing. He really does like to target shoot, I am not sure why he doesn't do it more often. Perhaps it is something we need to look into doing together? Of course the last time we did it all my shots went into the dirt!

Kids Say The Darndest Things

This is a conversation with my friend Patty's 4 year old granddaughter and her dad. He posted it on his blog and it was the best laugh I have had this week, so thought I would share.

At the entrance to the children's section of Barnes and Nobles...

Me: You go and find a book for yourself. I'll just wait right here for you.

Maisy: You can come with me. You can hold my hand.

Me: You don't want to look by yourself?

Maisy: No. You come with me and hold my hand while I look. The last thing we need is a lost child on our hands.

Retreat Recap

65 ladies joined us for our Open Windows/Encountering God retreat. It was good to get to know some new faces, although I missed a lot of the old faces. It was a blessing to work on the Ladies Retreat Committee this year and see how God works to bring a vision to fruition. This retreat had a lot more details than past retreats and we had no idea how it was all going to come together, but surrendered it to God and He definitely rewarded us. Besides having 3 speakers, women were able to visit five of nine centers that had been prepared for them to have an encounter with God. They were the Kitchen Window where they encountered God through serving, the Bathroom Window where they encountered the forgiving God through images of cleansing, the Bedroom Window where they encountered the God of rest, the Game Room window where they encountered the God who speaks in venues of videos, games, songs, etc., the Nursery where we encounter God in child likeness, the Patio Window where we encounter God in nature, the Parlor Window where we encounter God in the different gifts and abilities He has blessed us with, the Office Window where we were challenged to look at our schedules and see where we could free up time to allow God to encounter us, the Dining Room window where we encountered God through feasting and communion and the Living Room Window where we encountered God through relationships. Each one of the centers was decorated to actually look like that room and had hands on experiences via sight, sound, taste and touch to help each woman have an encounter of her own. I personally was most blessed by the small group time and hearing Erin Snyder speak. How I wished I had known the Lord the way she does at the age of 24. I can only imagine what her relationship with him will be like when she is my age. For me my renewal was to come home and practice being still a lot more often. I tend to always have noise in the background. Today I began by reading my Bible for two hours in total silence. That was BIG for me. I pray more and more I can create a better space for me to encounter God.

I Survived!!

So did you read the title and start singing Gloria Gaynor?? What a week I have had. We got home from Nashville Wednesday night at 6:30 and I headed to the church building for the last ladies retreat committee meeting at 7:00. Got home and went to bed knowing I would have a full day on Thursday. Woke up and worked on my talk and finished it up at 2:00 p.m., went shopping, I wanted pj's as I only wear gowns and knew it would be a cold weekend. Also bought a few odds and ends for the trip. Came home and tried to do some more technical things for the retreat (recording Cd's for some of the centers) packed all the things I needed to take and got to bed about 4 a.m.
Met at Kelley's at 9:30 arrived to the retreat center and decorated madly until 7:00 when everyone started arriving. I have so much to tell you about the retreat that I will save that till tomorrow. But let me just say we were so thankful that God answered all of our prayers and all of our centers came together and flowed really well. We just praised Him for covering all the details, but were more thankful that 65 ladies got to share the weekend with us. If you were not one of them not only did we miss you, but you missed an amazing encounter with God.
I am so very thankful though that I was able to survive and God blessed me with the stamina to do all that I needed to do with the help of my sweet friend Rhonda who went early to help me decorate my center and then drove me all over from location to location. I know a year ago I would not have even been able to dream of doing what I did, so I was very thankful to God for the healing He continues to do in my body. Tune in tomorrow for the rest of the story.
I just spent two hours reading and catching up on everyone's blogs. I praise the Lord that it looks like all my blog buddies have had a good week. Kids seem healthy and pregnancies are continuing to go well and even was able to add two more blog friends to my list Abbe Womble and Kellie Litton. Our community keeps growing.

Nashville News

It continues to be very cold here in Nashville, especially when you are going to have to walk outside to one of the lunch venues, so Steve and I just paid the extra high prices and stayed and ate in the motel. Why is it the more expensive the motel the less amenities you get and the higher the food is?? I just don't quite understand it? I guess I am just not classy enough because I am just as comfortable at a Sleep Inn, Comfort Inn or Holiday Inn. The 6th motel used to be okay when I was single, but since all they have is a double bed that is usually against the wall on one side I don't really like staying there.

We have been blessed to hear some really good speakers. The two that stand out are Tim Woodruff that spoke on what are lives would look like if we truly believed that we had the Holy Spirit dwelling inside of us and Rick Rusaw that showed us what a church looks like who is externally focused. Both have caused me to be thinking in new and exciting ways and I only hope that my life will bear the fruit of those lessons.

I ask you to be praying for me in the next couple of days as we head into the Ladies Retreat weekend. Specifically I would ask that you pray for protection for me from Satan's attacks as He has already been doing some things technology wise that have frustrated me and kept me from working on my presentation. (like the "g" key just this minute popped off my computer!!!!)
Anyway, please pray for the other speakers as well and just that the ladies will all have a fresh encounter with God this weekend. We have 68 signed up to go!! And we are just so excited. So I really do covet your prayers. AND thank you for them ahead of time!

I probably will not be blogging again until Monday, but then hope to get back into the swing of it again, because I miss dialoging with all of you and more than that just hearing about what is going on in your world's.

Yea! President Bush

So here you have it! Straight from Google.

National Sanctity of Human Life Day, 2007
A Proclamation by the President of the United States of America

White House News

America was founded on the principle that we are all endowed by our Creator with the right to life and that every individual has dignity and worth. National Sanctity of Human Life Day helps foster a culture of life and reinforces our commitment to building a compassionate society that respects the value of every human being.

Among the most basic duties of Government is to defend the unalienable right to life, and my Administration is committed to protecting our society's most vulnerable members. We are vigorously promoting parental notification laws, adoption, abstinence education, crisis pregnancy programs, and the vital work of faith-based groups. Through the "Born-Alive Infants Protection Act of 2002," the "Partial-Birth Abortion Ban Act of 2003," and the "Unborn Victims of Violence Act of 2004," we are helping to make our country a more hopeful place.

One of our society's challenges today is to harness the power of science to ease human suffering without sanctioning practices that violate the dignity of human life. With the right policies, we can continue to achieve scientific progress while living up to our ethical and moral responsibilities.

National Sanctity of Human Life Day serves as a reminder that we must value human life in all forms, not just those considered healthy, wanted, or convenient. Together, we can work toward a day when the dignity and humanity of every person is respected.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, GEORGE W. BUSH, President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim Sunday, January 21, 2007, as National Sanctity of Human Life Day. I call upon all Americans to recognize this day with appropriate ceremonies and to underscore our commitment to respecting and protecting the life and dignity of every human being.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this eighteenth day of January, in the year of our Lord two thousand seven, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-first.

GEORGE W. BUSH

Nashville News

Steve and I arrived yesterday about noon in Nashville for the Christian Education Conference. This is a small church of Christ conference for Education Ministers. We have been coming for about 10 years now and have made friendships from all across the country that we enjoy renewing each year. We are staying at the Sheraton in Downtown Nashville and have a really nice view of downtown from our window. The Country Music Hall of Fame is only a couple of blocks away, so maybe I will venture over to it before I leave.

When we arrived yesterday it took us about 30 minutes to get an elevator as there was some kind of convention here in town and 1,600 people were staying at this motel! They must have all just let out of a session and all were going to their rooms, because it was just crazy. This morning they were all coming down the elevators with their luggage so it was even more challenging trying to find room in an elevator. The good news is they are now gone!! The lady at the front desk told us it was some kind of multi-layer marketing group and we saw the name this morning and I tried Google to tell you something about them, but didn't see anything.

Last night I wanted to blog and now I don't even remember what I was going to say but there was no way I could get on the internet last night. Everytime I tried I got the Renaissance Hotel across the way about 2 blocks. The Sheraton gave us a technical support number and they got us on for about 2 minutes and then when Steve called back they put him on hold and were telling him all these numbers he could call for phone sex so he hung up. Just amazing!!! You would think a motel you are paying over $100.00 a night for would have better service than that! Anyway...I have no idea whose service I have hacked into right now, but just wanted to post while we were here.

This morning we got up and went out to breakfast at Shoney's. Now in year's past they have had a wonderful breakfast buffet. Well guess what?? Not any more!!! We should have got up and left this place and what made it worse if you didn't get the buffet you had two choices on the menu, pancakes, or bacon and eggs. Then why we are eating we hear this ruckas and these two women begin arguing and one gets very loud and VERY foul mouthed. I could not believe that the management did not come and put an end to it. Their husbands put an end to it and I watched one woman walk back to her table where her two twins (about 7) were sitting with these horrified looks on their face. What were these two women thinking??

Steve and I had already decided that we would go to the church where Michael Card goes in Franklin Tennessee while we were here. So we headed for Christ Community Church. They are in the middle of a sermon series on Revelations. When is the last time you heard a sermon from the book of Revelation? Much less an entire series. It was a really good sermon too. I thought they had an interesting approach; their founding minister preached a segment then they had the offering and some singing, then their senior minister preached a segment and they had a praise singing time and then the first guy preached a 3rd segment and they had a singing response time. It was interesting to hear more than one guy delivering the message and then I thought it helped with my attention span to have the breaks of worship in between.

Oh yes, I forgot to mention it is cold here!! Only 14 when we left this morning and 25 when we came out at noon. There is a frozen fountain in the plaza below that looks really cool and I wished I had brought my camera. Anyway, I was really glad I brought some gloves because I have not been able to get warm.

Now the Lobby is full of "Right to Life" people. Did you know that today is Right To Life day? It is a day proclaimed by President Bush to be for the protection of unborn children. I had no idea such a day existed?? Is this the first year for it?? They announced it at the church we were at this morning and then when we returned to the motel there were all sorts of people here for it.

All In Your Perspective

I sure have missed just life being way to busy to even think about blogging. I did try to catch up on reading some blogs last night. Don't have alot to say but still wanted to post something. In preparing for my talk at the Ladies Retreat I found this story in a book called "The Upside of Down" by Joseph M. Stowell and thought I would share it with you all.

"A little boy would look across the sprawling meadows outside his house every morning and see in the distance a house with golden windows. He would stare and revel in the radiant beams streaming his way from far away. He asked his father one day if they could visit the house with the golden windows. The father obliged and they started to walk. They walked and walked until they approached the house. The young lad stood perplexed. He saw no windows of gold. But a little girl inside saw them staring at her home and came out to ask if they were looking for something. “yes” replied the boy “I wanted to see the house with the golden windows that I see every morning.”

“Oh, you’ve come to the wrong place,” she quickly said. “if you wait here a little while until sunset, I will show you the house with the golden windows that I see every evening.” She then pointed to the house in the distance—the home of the little boy."

How about you? Are you looking for something in the distance when you have the blessings right where you are? Unfortunately, I am guilty as charged.

Quick HaHa

Steve's mother gets us a subscription to Reader's Digest every year. It has some good stories, but sometimes there is just a good laugh. Tonight I read this one and thought I would share it. Maybe someone else will find it funny too.

Jeff's blind date with Suzanne was bad from the start, in fact they loathed each other. Fortunately, Jeff had asked a friend to call him so he would have an excuse to leave if the date wasn't going well.
When his friend called, Jeff pretended to be in shock "I have to leave" Jeff said to Suzanne, "My aunt just died." "Thank God" Suzanne replied. "If yours hadn't mine would've had to."

Amazing Race

Anyone else Amazing Race Fans? I am just elated that Nate and Jennifer got eliminated tonight. Jennifer couldn't be kind even on her own birthday. Her whining absolutely drove me nuts! I think Nate was far more gracious to her than I would have been. She just showed him no respect.

It is one of the few seasons I ever remember where the "nice" people actually have made it to the end. I am routing for Donald and Christina. I think Donald has come a long way and the last two episodes has been so much more positive. However if Rachel and TK win I am glad that they are one couple who actually treats each other with respect. I haven't seen where this race is going to end up, but will be looking forward to the final three duking it out next week.

Movie Watching

Wow! Where did this week go? It has been a long time since I have been too busy to blog. Hope I didn't lose too many of you checking in? The countdown is on for the ladies retreat and the preparations are really eating up a lot of my time. I am responsible for the content of 2 of our 9 windows as well as one of the talks. My windows are the Bathroom and Entertainment room. For the entertainment room I needed some movie clips so I have been watching several movies. I joined Blockbuster online for a month because it was only $9.95, but will cancel it once the month is over because it seems silly to pay a cable bill and then pay $17.99 on top of that just to have more movies. Anyway, this week I have watched: The Illusionist, We Are Marshall, The Ultimate Gift, Cats and Les Miserables. Plus I found a new site Wingclips.com where you can watch movie clips. It has some really good ones from movies I had never heard of before. So last night about 1:00 a.m. I finally finalized what clips I would be using. Now, you will have to come to the ladies retreat to find out or if you're a man and are interested you can email me and I will tell you :)

I thought the Ultimate Gift had some good thoughts in it. So if you were having to compile a list of what you thought was important for someone to learn what would you include? The twelve gifts in the movie were:
The gift of friendship
The gift of family
The gift of money
The gift of dreams
The gift of laughter
The gift of learning
The gift of problems
The gift of giving
The gift of gratitude
The gift of a day
The gift of love
The gift of work

I think I would add the gift of forgiveness, the gift of grace and the gift of unconditional love. How about you what would you add?

Praying For Our Leaders

In light of this being an election year I found this following guide to be helpful to me. Just wanted to share it.

(Courtesy Summit County National Day of Prayer)
LET US PRAY THAT LEADERS

... will honor God, be granted salvation and will see His unfailing love; 1 Sam. 2:30b;
Psa. 85:7 ; Pro. 3:6
... will fear the LORD and attend to Him in truth - 1 Sam. 12:24
... will learn righteousness - Isa. 26:9b
... will trust in the LORD with all of their heart and lean not upon their own understanding - Pro. 3:5
... will follow the LORD with all of their heart - 1 Sam. 12:20b
... will worship God gratefully, acceptably, with reverence and awe Heb. 12:28
... will have grace and peace from God - Phi. 1:2
... will serve the right master - Luke 16;13; Rom. 13:1,6,7
... will be public servants of prayer - Luke 22:46
... will have teachable spirits - Psa. 2:10,11
... will have the Word of Christ dwelling richly within - Col. 3:16
... will be taught the way that is good and right - 1 Sam. 12:23; 2Sam. 23:3
... will approve the things which are excellent - Phi. 1:10
... will be full of the Spirit and wisdom - Acts 6:3
... will proclaim God's words - Jer. 23:22
... will be revived that we may rejoice in them - Psa. 85:6
... will have compassionate hearts for the poor; be charitable; just and right -
Pro. 29:14; Eze. 18:5-9
... will forgive the sins of others - John 20:23
... will love their neighbors as themselves - Rom 13:9
... will walk in God's house with a blameless heart - Psa. 101:2
... will be instructed and taught in the way they should go and be faithful - Psa. 32:8; 101:6
... will be obedient to God's Commandments and be kept from evil - John 17:15;
Mat. 28:20; Exo. 20:1-17
... will hold fast the Word of life - Phi. 2:16
... will listen to what the LORD God has to say that we may have peace - Psa. 85:8
... will endeavor to restore families - Psa. 127; Eph. 5:22-23
... will be courageous - Isa. 35:4
... will be responsible to confront threats to the moral fabric of our nation - Rom. 13:11-14
... will be committed to the LORD - 1 Sam. 7:3b

Search Me O' God

I don't know how many of you in an R.E. Life Group are studying Sacred Rhythms, but our life group is. Ruth Haley Barton writes so many things that have challenged me. This week the chapter was self examination. She quotes Psalms 139:23-24 "Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting." We talked whether it was easy or hard to pray this prayer. We agreed it was hard, and admitted that none of us has ever prayed this prayer personally. I thought Mrs. Barton did a wonderful job of reminding us that this prayer is not really about us asking God to search us because after all He already knows all about us. Earlier in Psalms 139:1-4 David said " O LORD, you have searched me and you know me. You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar. You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways. Before a word is on my tongue you know it completely, O LORD." So the point is God already knows and what this prayer is really about is for us to come to know ourselves the way that God knows us. What I loved about her discussion is she reminds us that we are secure in God's love and no matter what we have done He still loves us, so this kind of self examination is not meant to be self condemning. It is a celebration of loving God so much that the more we recognize our own shortcomings He will transform us more and more into His image. God has this amazing life of overflowing love, mercy, and grace just waiting for me to embrace. How much longer am I going to let Satan the accuser blind me from the truth of God's love?

After Christmas Perspective

Steve sent me this post today from the Ravi Zaccharias Ministry. You can subscribe to the posts at slice-html-subscribe@lists.rzim.org. I thought it was some great commentary on my after Christmas blues and thought I would share them with all of you.

Life After Christmas
by Jill Carattini

"In the days following of Christmas it is almost natural to find our mood something like that of the brilliant lights we have just unplugged. Guests go home. Decorations come down. Celebrations cease. And life resumes with a little less fanfare. But I’ve always felt poet W.H. Auden describes the letdown of Christmas almost too well--reminding me even of things I hadn’t considered:

Well, so that is that. Now we must dismantle the tree,
Putting the decorations back into their cardboard boxes...
There are enough left-overs to do, warmed-up, for the rest of the week--
Not that we have much appetite, having drunk such a lot,
Stayed up so late, attempted--quite unsuccessfully--
To love all of our relatives, and in general
Grossly overestimated our powers. Once again
As in previous years we have seen the actual Vision and failed
To do more than entertain it as an agreeable
Possibility, once again we have sent Him away...
The Christmas Feast is already a fading memory,
And already the mind begins to be vaguely aware
Of an unpleasant whiff of apprehension...(1)

For Auden, in the days after Christmas, we step down from the heights of the holiday and along with our colored lights return to dimmer realities--daily life and its monotony, despairing headlines, another year of wearisome failures, blind spots, and missteps. Writing in 1942, Auden’s sense of the dismal reality of life after Christmas was likely heightened by the uncertainties of war and the certainty of violence. For many, Christmas indeed serves as a moment of respite in the midst of harsher realities that promise to recommence. For others, the season itself is disheartening and the aftermath is more of the same. Regardless, the picture W.H. Auden paints is one in which most can enter.

Yet Auden’s attempt to describe life after Christmas is far more than an offer of depressing poetry. Auden reminds us that we must come down from the heights of Christmas in order to embrace again the world in all of its brokenness and finitude, in order to truly receive the Child whose arrival was not marked by lights and decoration but a few witnesses in an unknown stable. Auden reminds us that the time after Christmas is the time when Christ can step into the thick of our lives as he intended. Writes Auden:

To those who have seen
The Child, however dimly, however incredulously,
The Time Being is, in a sense, the most trying time of all.

The Christmas story that sits at the heart of all our holiday efforts begs us to see it as far more than a peak event in December. Christmas is an annual reminder that God is on the move and was on the move long before we knew it. In fact, it was precisely into our dismal, empty, post-festive reality that the Child came near in the first place.

In the bleak moments of late winter, Christmas is not anti-climactic; it confronts us all the more. It is our startling reminder that God has not forgotten, though in the thick of our empty routines, despairing headlines, and blinding self-interest we have forgotten the Child. Yet here, in the quiet and empty days after celebrations have ceased, the sights and sounds of the Child among us can better be noticed and more authentically received. If Advent brings our attention to the sounds of one who stands at the door and knocks, and Christmas marks the culmination of that knocking in the cry of a newborn king, the days thereafter usher us further into the presence of a God who not only knocks and draws near, but has opened wide the doors of heaven."

Where Have I Been??????

I just finished watching "Facing The Giants". How in the world did I miss seeing this movie in the theater??? I remember some talk, but I had no idea what I was getting into when I started watching it! Someone recommended it as a movie for my center at the Ladies Retreat. Now I sit here with streams of tears running down my face and asking myself do I truly believe that "nothing is impossible with God"? Then to watch the special features and discover this was just a church's dream of a way to reach out to the world, so they made a movie?? I am sure most of you have seen the movie and if some of you are like me and somehow missed it be sure and go rent it right away. I already bought my copy of the movie and the soundtrack on Amazon.com. Most of all for a long time my scripture verse on my blog has been Ephesians 3:20 and God spoke that verse again to me in this movie. "To Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or think". Why do I cling to this verse? Because I want it so bad to be true! My head says it is because God says it, I want my heart to embrace it and rejoice in it and yearn to be surrounded by crowds of other believers who believe it also. Here is the song that touched my heart the most tonight (although so many of them were great)

Title: Completely (Ana Laura)

The secret of life is letting go
the secret of love is letting it show
in all that I do
in all that I say
right here in this moment

the power of prayer is in a humble cry
the power of change is in giving my life
and laying it down
down at your feet
right here in this moment

chorus:
take my heart
take my soul
I surrender everything to your control
and let all that is with in me lift up to you and say
I am yours and yours alone
completely

This journey of life is a search for truth
this journey of faith is following you
every step of the way
through the joy and the pain right here in this moment

Right here, right now, and for the rest of my life
Hear me say

take my heart
take my soul
I surrender everything to your control
and let all that is with in me lift up to you and say
I am yours and yours alone
completely

I am yours and yours alone
Completely

More Random Thoughts

First of all thanks to those that were brave enough to post to my comments yesterday. Roger I appreciate the explanations. I guess because I have been blogging a year now and have not got any spam on my blog, I did not know you could do that the same as email. And I appreciate the political explanations, obviously I did not retain what I learned in government class ions ago. I did know the purpose of primaries, just didn't understand the caucus procedure. Becky I appreciate your comments, you have given me something to think about, but still don't know that my conscience will allow me to vote for someone who is going to promote funding for stem cell research through abortions. Oh my Kristi, either you are kidding or you must really explain to us the relation to Mike Huckabee.

Kristi had a great post the other day about the reasons she blogs and I thought I would add that because of blogging my parents now have a new car. If you read Tim Perkins blog (with all the cool airplane pictures) you know that he recently had to make the hard decision to take the keys away from his 86 year old mother. He mentioned that he was going to try and sell the car. My parents have been driving a 1995 Buick that has 134,000 miles on it and Steve and I have been concerned about that for awhile, fearing they would get stranded on one of their many trips to the VA. So I contacted Tim and found out his mother's 1997 Oldsmobile only had 27,000 miles on it and today we were able to help my parents get the car (thanks to a generous Christmas gift from my brother Brad as well). We will all rest much easier. So if I didn't read blogs and Tim didn't post blogs we would not have found such a great car at a very reasonable price!!

I haven't told anyone this but in November I started trying to focus on losing weight. After my lengthy hospital stay and rehab I stepped on the scale and was surprised that I had lost 100 lbs. Unfortunately as I got better I went back to my old eating habits and gained 40 of that back, so I decided if I didn't make some permanent changes in my life I would get right back up there. Well today I felt sooooo good because my weigh in showed I lost 6 pounds over the holidays!!! I was going to be content if I just maintained but was thankful for the loss. And the best part about it was I did not go without anything I wanted over the holidays, I just chose to eat much smaller portions. I am asking that God really help me to revamp my thinking and this not be a diet but my new way to live. I have about 150 pounds to lose, so it is a long road ahead but I will travel it one day at a time and trust that God will reward my efforts.

Everyone have a GREAT weekend!

Blog Topic Overload

I have so many different things running around in my mind today to blog about but so as not to overwhelm you with so much I will save some for another day.

First of all, I have been curious for awhile now and perhaps some of you will answer this question for me. For those of you that have blogs that require people to type in "character verifications", can you explain to me why? I am not sure what their purpose is and inevitably every night miss type the letters on some one's site. So if someone would explain, I would feel more enlightened.

Second, can someone explain to me what gives Iowa so much power that all the attention of the country has been on them today? I don't really understand the caucus purpose and how only some states even have them and who chose the east half of the country to represent all of America? Again, I am showing my ignorance. Now, I will publicly say I am usually Republican, but so far I am very undecided. Is it just me, or does anyone else think Mike Huckabee resembles Gomer Pyle? (sorry Kristi hopefully no relation?) I know I probably should have kept that to myself. I wish I could get Barack Obama to change his positions on abortion, I hate that he voted "no" in 2006 to notifying parents of minors who get out of state abortions. I actually like him and feel he does exhibit some integrity. I am very thankful that Hilary did not fare well and hope that continues. Does anyone have a better understanding than me of Romans 13:1? "Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God." So if Hilary does win, does that mean it was God's will? And if so will it be to punish us or bless us? Okay, there you have my political statement for tonight.

Today I watched the Robert DeNiro Movie "The Mission". I had never seen it. I am doing a room at the Ladies Retreat on God Encounters in Entertainment, so I have been researching ideas for that room and got a book called "Reel Spirituality". When I read the chapter on "The Mission" I wanted to see it. I have no idea how I missed this movie when it was released in 1986. This movie touched my heart in so many ways. Watching Robert DeNiro weep when he realizes he is a forgiven man. Listening to Jeremy Irons talk about love and how it has to be the way we relate to one another. Watching the bravery of the Indian people. But then to know this was a true story just angered me against the Catholic church and how they could justify the slaughter of such innocent people. The music and cinematography were just amazing. If you haven't seen this movie, it is definitely worth the rent. It will cause you to look at your own convictions and spirituality. Just a warning, you will need a Kleenex.

Another Song

Tonight Angela Tooley shared a song with me that I had never heard before. It is "Living Prayer" by Alison Krauss. I am ashamed to admit that I don't even know who this singer is. I went out to her website and found out she had won 20+ Grammy awards. There was no mention on her site about her religious convictions. Nevertheless, the words to this song really touched my heart.

In this world I walk alone
With no place to call my home
But there's one who holds my hand
The rugged road through barren lands
The way is dark, the road is steep
But He's become my eyes to see
The strength to climb, my griefs to bear
The Savior lives inside me there

In Your love I find release
A haven from my unbelief
Take my life and let me be
A living prayer, my God to Thee

In these trials of life I find
Another voice inside my mind
He comforts me and bids me live
Inside the love the Father gives

In Your love I find release
A haven from my unbelief
Take my life and let me be
A living prayer, my God to Thee

Take my life and let me be
A living prayer, my God to Thee

Resolutions

I know a lot of people make New Year's Resolutions, but I am not one of them. I like to do reflections and determine how I could do better and then commit to pray about them. Maybe it's the same thing, but seems to me that most resolutions are meant to be accomplished in our own power. In fact we say "I will......." And it seems to be that 99% of all resolutions I hear about have something to do with weight. So in light of that fact here again is a little humor.

Will's therapist told him that the way to achieve true inner peace was to remember to always finish what he started. So today, Will has finished 2 bags of potato crisps, a gallon of ice-cream, two buckets of chicken, and a chocolate cake. He feels much better already.

• Do you call a person who has abandoned their diet a desserter?
• It's not the minutes spent at the table that put on weight, it's the seconds.
• The toughest part of a diet isn't watching what you eat. It's watching what other people eat

Anyway, I would be interested in hearing about your resolutions, if you want to share them.